OT, soldiers carrying loaded weapons.

In the past 2 or 3 days, American troops in Afghanistan have been
ordered to carry loaded weapons at all times while on base ,

What would the previous situiation have been?

That they didn't carry weapons at all, or that they carried unloaded
weapons?

And what base is referrred to? It sounds like it is the American
bases that are referred to, but maybe that part is written badly.

Where have the American killed in the last several incidents there,
may they rest in peace, been killed, on American bases or Afghani?


I thought that on an American base the only ones carrying weapons were
the guards at the gate and the perimeter or in front of some high
mucky-muck's office, soldiers leaving or returning to the base, those
going to the firing range to practice, those appearing for a few
minutes during (daily?) inpection by their commanding officer, and a
small number of others for misc. reasons, like going to the
quartermaster to get a replacement part.

And that when American military visited a foreign base, like an
Afghani base in Afghanistan, again, the miliarty guard would carry
weapons but officers carried no more than a side arm, if that, and
privates and NCOs brought just to carry things would not be armed at
all.

So my impression of the change in orders was that they should carry
weapons when they haven't been, not that they should load weapsons
they are already carrying. Comments?